Leading Scripture: Numbers 12

* GODLY LEADERSHIP = Leading others according to God’s will

* FAITH = Doing what is right with the right attitude motivated by the right reason.

How Can You Lead Others Faithfully?

From the passage, Moses is modelling faithfulness as a leader in a number of ways.

1.    You Need to Be Humble (ref. vs 3)

·      In verse 3 we see that Moses was a Leader who was Humble.

·      Some may oppose the “authors comment” in Numbers 12:3, that it favours the author (Moses) himself, but we see Jesus in Mat 11:29 also testifying about Himself on Humility saying “for I am gentle and humble in heart”. Also, Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 talks about himself saying “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”

·      We need to speak about ourselves where relevant, some characters are powerful testimonies to the world

Was Moses Humble?

a.    In Exodus 4:10, when God told Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, he recognized his inability to speak or influence the people.

·      God gave him a gifted spokesman – Aaron.

·      A faithful leader isn’t expected to be equipped with all gifts but to recognize their limitation and surround themselves with other gifted people.

b.    In Numbers 11:25-30, Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp and had not gone to the tabernacle. Joshua asked Moses to stop them, but Moses said “I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets.” He wasn’t jealousy to know some prophesied as He did, thus, humility.

·      Let us not limit God, He can work through whoever He chooses.

c.    In Numbers 12:7-8, God referred to Moses as “My servant.”

·      Moses was not a politician, i.e; seeking to please the people to retain his position of power.

·      We need to be Leaders and not Politicians… For Politicians think about the “Next General Elections” while Leaders think about the “Next Generation.”

·      “Success in God’s Ministry is not measured by what you can do, but by your faithfulness”

·      When you are Humble, God fights for you!

2.    You need to be in good relationship with God (ref. vs 6-8)

·      Moses was in a good relationship with God and God testified about him as “Faithful.”

·      In Job 1:8 God also testified about Job’s faithfulness.

·      God has to testify about us too.

·      In Acts 13:22 (ref. 1 Sam 13:14), God testified about David as “a man after God’s own heart.”

·      He also testified about Jesus in Matthew 17:5 saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

·      Jesus in Mar 12:43 also testified about the poor widow saying she “has put more into the treasury than all the others”

·      Faithful people find their approval and worth in how the Lord loves them.

·      Let us put our relationship with God first in our lives and God will help us know how He wants us to work towards His purpose.

3.     Don’t allow the crisis to Derail you (ref. vs. 13)

·      From the leading passage, we see a crisis in Moses’ leadership. The problem was that, in Deuteronomy 7:3 Moses taught the Israelites not to marry foreigners yet he got himself a foreign wife (Num 12:1).

·      For that reason, Aaron and Miriam complained about Moses’ authority. As such, they were rebellious with the aim of elevating themselves to a position of power.

·      God then intervened by punishing them since the approach they used wasn’t good, they would’ve gone through the elders (Numbers 11:16-17). Moses interceded for them (Miriam).

·      He acted for the good of those God had entrusted him with, even at the expense of his prestige, power, etc. When the crisis occurred, he did not abandon his responsibility but sought to advance it.

·      Despite Miriam doing wrong to Moses, he never allowed that to derail him. Let us also not allow a crisis to derail us.

·      As people in positions of authority, we may be offended by opposition. Sometimes it may be right to defend our position and defeat those against us.

CONCLUSION

·      Many are leaders on earth, but less are faithful. ARE YOU FAITHFUL?

·      May God help us to be effective as leaders by being faithful rather than successful by the world’s standards.

·      God uses leaders who are faithful and He wants to use us.